Once a month from May to December, Washington Park is packed with 100-plus vendors selling everything from vintage clothing and jewelry to artisan food. Dubbed The City Flea, it’s the brainchild of Cincinnati natives and husband-and-wife duo Lindsay and Nick Dewald, who sourced inspiration from the Brooklyn Flea in New York. This year marks The City Flea’s 10th anniversary, and to celebrate, its founders are hosting a special Womensfolk Market featuring female makers on March 8 at The Transept in Over-the-Rhine.
The City Flea’s story begins in 2011, when Lindsay and Nick took a leap of faith to create something Cincinnati hadn’t seen before. First, they connected with Carolyn and Mike Deininger, owners of Over-the-Rhine retailer MiCA 12/v, who put the Dewalds in contact with other local small business owners. The Dewalds also contacted local makers on Etsy to find people who might be interested in selling products at the first flea, and on June 4, 2011, they hosted their first market in a parking lot at Vine Street and Central Parkway with about 45 vendors. The City Flea has since grown to include 100-plus vendors and thousands of shoppers every month at Washington Park.
Ten years later, the Dewalds are just as excited about supporting their community and its local makers. “It’s going to be a really fun, celebratory year,” says Lindsay, who adds that she and Nick want to revive market themes they’ve used in the past “as homage to [the flea’s] early years.”
Of course, they’re kicking off their anniversary with a bang. The Womensfolk Market, which is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on International Women’s Day, will feature women-owned businesses, including Prospect Jam Co., The Diggingest Girl, amPM Exchange, Odd Stock, and Minor Obsession. “It’s just a cool way to shine a spotlight on the women who are being badasses,” Lindsay says.
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